Boat trailer



March 13, 1951 J, YOUNG ET AL BOAT TRAILER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 15, 1949 JNVENTORS JOHN L. YOUNG 8 y VINCENTE. CARLETON March 13, 1951 J, L. YOUNG ET AL BOAT TRAILER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 15, 1949 FIGS.

INVENTORS JOHN L. YOUNG 8 BY VINCENT E. CA RLETON A TTORNEYS Patented Mar. 13, 1951 BOAT TRAILER John L. Young and Vincent E. Carleton, Benton, Ark.

Application November 15, 1949, Serial No. 127,338

This invention relates to boat trailers and more particularly to a trailer connectible at one end to a vehicle, such as an automobile, and arranged to suspend a boat therefrom for transportation.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an improved boat trailer which can be easily connected by a tow hitch to the rear end of an automobile, or similar vehicle, -and from which a boat, such as a row boat or small sail boat, can be suspended for transportation, which is simple and durable in construction and can be economically manufactured from readily available stock material, and which is so arranged and constructed that a boat can be easily suspended therefrom without strenuous manual effort and the boat and the wheels of the trailer are effectively protected from damage during transportation of the boat.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and the appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a trailer illustrative of the invention with a boat suspended therein;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the trailer and boat illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the trailer;

Figure 4 is a cross section of a fragmentary portion of the trailer taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1 and showing a structural detail;

Figure 5 is a transverse cross section on an enlarged scale on the line 55 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 5 and illustrates the mechanism for attaching one end of the boat to the trailer; and

4 Claims. (Cl; 214-75) Figure 7 is a top plan view of a fragmentary portion of the trailer as illustrated in Figure 2 showing a structural detail.

, 'With continued reference to the drawings, the trailer comprises an elongated tongue l0 which may conveniently be formed of tubular metal stock and has at its front end a downward and somewhat forwardly inclined portion II and a forwardly directed portion [2 at the lower end of the downwardly directed portion l l. A web or gusset I4 is secured in the angle between the portion H and the portion l2 to reinforce the bends in the tongue.v .One element l5 of a trailer or tow hitch is secured to the tongue portion 12 near the forward end of' the latter and a light chain 16 is secured tothe front end of the tongue, preferably to the web [4 as illustrated, to provide an additional safety hitch for connecting the front end of the trailer to the towing vehicle.

An arched structure, generally indicated at I! is secured at its mid-lengthlocation to the rear end of the tongue l0 and. extends below the tongue. in. substantially. perpendicular relationship to the latten This arched structure com- .or gusset I3 is secured in the angle between the I tongue l0 and the portion H and a similar web prises an outer tube of bracket-shaped formation having a straight intermediate portion l8 which is welded or otherwise suitably secured at its mid-length location to the rear end of the tongue IB and two legs 19 and 20 at the respectively opposite ends of the intermediate portion [8 and disposed substantially perpendicular to the latter, the two legs being joined to the intermediate portion by arcuately curved bends as 'is clearly illustrated in Figure 3. The arched structure further comprises an inner, bracket-shaped tubular member having an intermediate portion 2| disposed below and substantially parallel to the intermediate portion [8 of the outer member, and two legs 22 and 23 disposed within and substantially parallel to the legs I9 and 2|] 0 the outer member respectively. A

An inverted U-shaped fork 24 is secured at its mid-length location to the lower end of the leg IQ of the outer member of the structure I! and projects downwardly from such leg substantially in vertical alignment therewith and a similar U-shaped fork or yoke 25 is secured at its midlength location to the lower end of the leg 20 and projects downwardly therefrom in substantially vertical alignment therewith. The leg 22 of the inner member of the arched structure is secured at its lower end to the fork 24 at the inner side of the fork and the leg 23 of the inner member is similarlysecured to the fork 25.

The legs of the forks 24 and 25 are flattened at their lower ends and provided with deep notches and the notches in the lower'ends of the fork 24 receive an axle 26 while the notches in the lower ends of the fork 25 receive a similar axle 21. A wheel 28 is disposed within the fork 24 and is journaled on the axle 26 while a wheel 29 is disposed within the fork 25 and journaled on the axle 21. The axles are secured to the forks 'by inner and outer clamp nuts, as indicated at 30 and 3| threaded onto the externally screw,

threaded endportions of the axles.

- The fork 24 further includes a U-shaped fender 32 which extends forwardly from the lower end of the fork 24 substantially perpendicular to the tween .the intermediate portions l8 and 2| of the two members of the arched structure and two diagonal braces 34 and 35 disposed at respectively v opposite sides of the tongue l0 are secured at structure T 13 rac extend earwa ir 9i the arched structure l1 and a roller shaft 36 is journaled near its respectively opposite ends on the braces 34 and 35 rearwardly of the arched StIllQ- ture II, this roller being spaced rearwardly frg n and substantially parallel to the intermediate portion 18 of the outer member oi the arehed structure.

Short tube sections 3! and 38 are secured to the inner sides of the braces" 34 and 35 respec tively rearwardly of the arched structure [1 and an eye 39 secured to and upstanding from the htaq 4 and e t bul s ct 3 re at h receives the adjacent end of the roller IB while a similar eye 40 secured to and upstanding from brace 35, and the tube section 38 journals the roller l8 near its opposite end. Chains, 4|

42 are wound on the roller 18 near. the resp t e p o ends of e r l e a d. e-

pend from the roller. At their lower ends these chains carry hooks 43 and 44 respectively which a e eaee with th r cture Qi a boa eth as the boat 45 illustrated inFigures l and'2, for raising the boat upwardly into the arched structure ll. A hand crank 46 is secured to one end of the roller id for rotating the latter and a ratchet wheel 41 is secured on the roller adjae cent the crank. A plate 49 is secured on'the top 'of the brace 35 and a pawl 53 carried by this plate engages the ratchet wheel 41 to hold the roller 36 against rotation in a direction to lower 'the boat. The'pawl may be manually released from the ratchet wheel when it is desired to lower the boat and remove it iron; the trailer.

Rearwardly oi the roller '36 the brace 34 is pr v th a ub tan ia y, erti l lr ex.- ten e a u d n e e be t 5 sii eb y mounted in this aperture withits eye below the brace. A compression spring 52 surrounds the bolt above thebrace 34' and bears at its lower end on the brace and at its upper end against a nut 53 threaded onto the eye-bolt. The brace 35 is provided with a similar aperture rearwardly of; the roller 36 and eye bolt 54 is sli dably inountecl'in this aperture with its eye disposed below-the brace 35. A compression spring "55 surrounds the bolt above the brace 35- and bears at its lower end on'the brace 'and at itsfuppe'r end against a nut 56 threaded onto the bolt. A flexible band 51 formed of webbing; belting or suitable material has a herd provided at each end andhas a metal rodor bar extending through each hem The herbs are apertured and a double hook 58 secures one end of the band 51 to the eye of the bolt 5twhile a similar double 211601; 59 secures the opposite ehd of the; band to theeye hr the bolt 54.

' 'A iter the bolthas been raised to properpos ubh by the chains 41- ancf'n the band =51 placed beneaththe boat and securedfat its ends; to the eye bolts 51 and 54. The pawl Bil-is then released from the ratchet Wheel-"41 and the roller. 3'5 permitted to rotate to; allow the boat'to settle on the band 5 1. The hooks 43 n may then be disengaged from the boat and theboat supported entirely by the band 5 1', t he springs52 an 5.5 o di a es ent' iinport git theboa th r n i he rai e A trailer license'plate 60' may be conveniently secured to the rear side oij'the'upper'portio of ar h wam i nd; rer ad: mittens 61 may be secured to the rear side of; thefarche'd Stru tu n to the i e sen a ti Q e arning signals at the rear end oi. the trailer, A :i-QFPQF W ri g; si ner ma he. re re b 4 ma ti e a re fla in th ar end o a a carried by thetrailer. Z r

A U-shaped guard rail 63 is secured substantially at its mid-length position to the downwardly extending portion I l of the tongue l0 near the'lower end of such portion and the legs of this guard rail extend rearwardly at respectively opposite sides of the tongue and are secured at their rear ends to the outer sides of the fenders 32 and 33 respectively as is particularly illustrated Fi ure 2- Curved braces 64 and 65 extend from the diag nal braces 4 and 5 Zl1 GtiVe1y to the adjacent l gs o t e uard ra l'3 nte mediate. the len th of t e e t head are di posed ubstantia y pe pen cula to the au dt tail ees- A T-shaii d m m er. 6,, as partic la ly H11 tratd in F gures. 5- d 6, is Se ured to the tongue 4 ear th do nward y ent portion H 'by. a U bolt 1 w h par ly surrounds. the. stem nd exe s a ts, e ds. t ro g apertu es. ri ovideld n h s d e. 6B. or he me er 66. ne r the. respectively opposite ends of the saddle, nuts being h eaded mi e t e en s of e U. bolt to firmly ecuret member. 5 o h to gue A t bffifl t ds. d nwait y' 'm the. sadd e 6 o 'th mbe 66 nd p o ided, nea ts lower en w th n. a erture 0 A rac et 1| Secur d. to he o e' d, of b by su a e means such as the bolts 12 and this bracket.projects'upwardly abo e t e boa andv rovided. near its unper'e w h an nertm I s ri the. bow end i t e. boat to the trai e t .'the tra le b n. ositioned over the boat, the front end oi thetrailer is. lowered un h pert r 1% i the ab. 6 r gisters with the aperture near the upper'e'nd bf the. bracket l nd a .01 11 is. t n n erted th u h the registering apertures and a wing nut 13. is adedw nto ie h lt.

After thev bow end. or the. boat has, n s ur d to the tra l r, c ngu'efby the memb r ,6, racket d 91 2, hehoo s a-nd. Mare enga e i h h heat. structure, a id he oat. ra sed i into e ar hed s ructure; ll n ar th r ar end of t e ai e by t rn nei ehandi crank 5, the band 51 isthen secured i la e ben at t e' boat methane Al and 4.Z;s.1ac.1, ,ed and thehooirsjlis and 44 'r'emhvedyih the"ma'nner"indicatedaboy, and" the boat is then pr per y u nd wfw r l iv pe tet eni 1" The invention may be embodied in other spe ific, o m W ther?! ler rt nejtroin the spi i or ss al,' haf e r stiiis reof, The present emb d ent t e 'e, to; b considered in; an respect /as ustr'atire and; ot rejstri egti ie s one of the invent ea isin /indicated .1. ap ended la ms ra he h fdbyf hei fcrl de ription, and al changes ihilcjh com 1 t e meaning, a d re s d? equ v l yioi he claims are, therefore, intended' e be embraced Whatisclairnediis; v

A boat trailer. m isineu n longated t h li x a 'd n a tdlr xtend n por on at s. o ard end h tch? element 'fecuremtb i ongu a t e i aid dcwnwar lyiexr tendin p,ortion, an: ched s ucture 01a i e to r ceive a. bea lier nl' eci t d su sta t a lr a ts; m r ene hr o at on to' the ear. e d. 'oifsaid t n ue n i ea ed! substantially perpendi u la he a t r, nverted; .-.-Sh p. i $l cured spring supported means carried respectively bysaid braces rearwardly of said roller and engageable with said band at the respectively opposite ends of the latter to support a boat in said arched structure, a U-shaped guard rail secured substantially at its mid-length location to said tongue adjacent said hitch element and at it ends respectively to said forks at the outer sides of the latter, a curved brace extending from each diagonal brace to the adjacent side of said guard rail,

and means carried by said tongue near said downwardly extending portion for attaching an end of a coat to said tongue.

2. A boat trailer comprising an elongated tongue having a downwardly extending portion at its forward end, a hitch element secured to said tongue at the end of said downwardly extending portion, an arched structure of a size to receive a boat therein secured substantially at its mid-length location to the rear end of said tongue and disposed substantially perpendicular to the latter, an inverted U-shaped fork secured to each end of said arched structure, a wheel journaled in each fork, two diagonal braces disposed at respectively opposite sides of said tongue and connected at their front ends to said tongue near the downwardly extendin portion of the latter and intermediate their length to said arched structure near respectively opposite ends of such structure, said braces extending rearwardly of said arched structure, a roller journaled on said braces rearwardly of said arched structure, flexible means depending from said roller and windable thereon for lifting a boat into said arched structure, a flexible band disposable below a boat in said arched structure, spring supported means carried respectively by said braces rearwardly of said roller and engageable with said band at the respectively opposite ends of the latter to support a boat in said arched structure, a U-shaped guard rail secured substantially at its mid-length location to said tongue adjacent said hitch element and at its ends respectively to said forks at the outer sides of the latter, a curved brace extending from each diagonal brace to the adjacent side of said guard rail, means carried by said tongue near said downwardly extending portion for attaching an end of a boat to said tongue, said arched structure comprising an outer bracket shaped member and an inner bracket shaped member, said members having spaced apart legs and intermediate portions substantially parallel to each other, and said tongue and said diagonal braces being secured between the intermediate portions of said bracket shaped members.

3. A boat trailer comprising an elongated tongue having a downwardly extendin portion at its forward end, a hitch element secured to said tongue at the end of said downwardly extending portion, an arched structure of a size to receive a boat therein secured substantially at its mid-length location to the rear end of said tongue and disposed substantially perpendicular to the latter, an inverted U-shaped fork secured to each end of said arched structure, a wheel journaled in each fork, two diagonal braces disposed at respectively opposite sides of said tongue and connected at their front ends to said tongue near the downwardly extending portion of the latter and intermediate their length to said arched structure'near respectively opposite ends of such structure, said braces extending rearwardly of said arched structure, a roller journaled on said braces rearwardly of said arched structure, flexible means depending from said roller and windable thereon for lifting a boat into said arched structure, a flexible band disposable'below a boat in said arched structure, sprin mounted anchoring means carried respectively by said braces rearwardly of said roller and engageable with the opposite ends of the band to connect the band to the braces for underlying and supporting a boat, a U-shaped guard rail secured substantially at its midlength location to said tongue adjacent said hitch element and at its ends respectively to said forks at the outer sides of the latter, a curved brace extending from each diagonal brace to the adjacent side of said guard rail, means carried by said tongue near said downwardly extending portion for attaching an end of a boat to said tongue, each of said forks including an inverted U -shaped portion having its legs flattened at their lower ends and notched to receive a wheel carrying axle, and a U-shaped fender secured at its ends to the legs of said fork near the lower ends of the fork legs and extending forwardly of said fork substantially perpendicular thereto.

4. A boat trailer comprising an elongated tongue having a forward end, a hitch element secured to said tongue at the forward end thereof, an arched structure secured substantially at its mid-length location to the rear end of said tongue and disposed substantially perpendicular to the latter, wheel forks secured to said structure one at each end thereof, a wheel journaled in each fork, diagonal braces disposed at respectively opposite sides of said tongue and secured at their forward ends to said tongue near said downwardly extending portion, said braces diverging rearwardly from said tongue and extending to the rear of said arched structure, boat supporting means carried by said tongue near said downwardly extending portion of the latter andboat supporting means resiliently mounted on said braces, said last means including a pair of spring mounted bolt elements, a flexible band disposable below a boat in said arched structure, means connecting the opposing ends of said band to the bolt elements.

JNO. L. YOUNG. VINCENT E. CARLETON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,260,676 Lafaye, Sr Oct. 28, 1941 2,425,252 Larson Aug. 5, 1947 2,427,667 Gilbert Sept. 23, .1947 2,448,119 Peterson Aug. 31, 1948 2,452,937 Krake Nov. 2, 1948 2,478,424 Reid Aug. 9, 1949 2,498,014 Spencer, Jr., et a1. Feb. 21, 1950 

